Pearson "looks really comfortable in his own skin right now" and "his stuff is outstanding," Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson's career has been sidetracked by injury, most recently with his 2022 season being wiped out by mononucleosis and then a lat strain. He's healthy now, though, and while his days of starting might be over, he has the potential to be a lockdown reliever for the Jays.

The Blue Jays reinstated Pearson (lat) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Since Buffalo's season has already ended, Pearson won't report to the Triple-A affiliate and will instead stick around at the Blue Jays' spring facility in Florida, where he'll likely continue to stay sharp in case Toronto requires an extra bullpen arm during its upcoming postseason run, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca. Pearson never made any appearances at the big-league level in 2022 after opening the campaign on the shelf while recovering from mononucleosis before he suffered a lat strain in June during his rehab assignment.

Interim manager John Schneider said the goal for Pearson (lat) is to get him throwing multiple innings again, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson has been in the minors on rehab assignments for all of the 2022 season. Since he began working back from his lat strain, he has pitched more than one inning one time -- a 1.1 inning appearance Wednesday in which he struck out four batters. That being said, if the goal is to get him back to working in multiple innings for Toronto, then it is hard to say if he will be back before the postseason.

Pearson (lat) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Dunedin, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson progressed to facing live batters earlier this week and has now been cleared for game action in the minors. The 26-year-old should make an appearance or two for Dunedin before moving the rehab assignment up to Triple-A Buffalo.

Pearson (lat) will throw live batting practice Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson has been throwing bullpens over the last two weeks, and he'll take another step in his recovery process this week by facing live hitters. If he feels good following Wednesday's throwing session, general manager Ross Atkins hopes that Pearson will be able to begin a rehab assignment shortly after.

Pearson (lat) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson was sidelined for the start of the season after coming down with mononucleosis, and he suffered a lat strain in late June after starting a rehab assignment in the minors. The 26-year-old resumed mound work earlier in August, and the next step in his rehab will be facing live hitters.

Pearson (lat) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson increased his throwing distance last week and has now been cleared to throw off a mound for the first time since he sustained his lat injury in June. The right-hander will likely ramp up his intensity over the next few weeks and will presumably require a rehab assignment prior to rejoining the Blue Jays.

Pearson (lat) progressed to throwing on flat ground from 150 feet Friday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 25-year-old resumed a throwing program in July and continues to build up his arm strength with long toss. Pearson could soon be cleared to begin mound work, and he'll likely need a couple weeks to ramp up before potentially embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment.

Pearson (lat) is now throwing from a distance up to 120 feet, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson is still not throwing off a mound, but he continues to make progress in his recovery and could be ready to throw a bullpen session in the near future.

Pearson (lat) recently resumed a throwing program at the Blue Jays' spring training complex in Florida and is "somewhat close" to throwing bullpen sessions, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pearson had been shut down for the past three weeks before he starting throwing again after he demonstrated enough healing from his strained right lat. Because Pearson has been on the injured list all season due to a prolonged bout with mononucleosis before suffering the lat strain in late June, the Blue Jays may not be inclined to have him build up for starting duty. If he ends up returning from the 60-day IL as a reliever, Pearson would still likely need a few weeks to complete his throwing progression and a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated.